Officials say incident caused by technical failure, lack of safety measures which are commonly seen in such stores
Four people, including an 11-year-old boy, were on Sunday injured when an air compressor exploded at a puncture repair shop near Kalma Chowk in Sibi, officials said.
Officials said the compressor burst due to excessive pressure at the store on Residency Road, sending metal parts across a wide area and damaging nearby shops and vehicles, triggering panic in the neighborhood.
The injured were identified as shopkeeper Inayatullah Gashkori, his partner Safar Gashkori, Muhammad Ashraf Achakzai and 11-year-old Muawiya Achakzai. Officials said all four are Quetta residents who had stopped at the shop to repair a flat tire while returning from a religious gathering.
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Rescue teams moved the injured to Civil Hospital Sibi, where chief physician Dr. Jahanzeb Baloch narrated Express news that all four received first aid and were in a stable condition. He said treatment was ongoing and they were expected to be discharged soon.
Officials said preliminary investigations indicated the explosion was caused by a technical fault and inadequate safety measures. An investigation has been launched and the shop owner is being questioned to help prevent similar incidents. Local residents have also called for stricter enforcement of safety standards at punctures and workshops.
The explosion initially raised concerns because of the prevailing law and order situation in Sibi. But officials later confirmed the incident was a technical accident and residents expressed relief that no lives were lost
